Exchange and use of globally unique device identifiers for circuit-switched and packet switched integration

ABSTRACT

According to one aspect, a system and method of exchanging GRUUs (Globally Routed User Agent URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)) between a first telephony-enabled device and a second telephony enabled device using a circuit-switched message is provided. Once exchanged, the telephony enabled devices can exchange SIP (session initiated protocol) communications routed by the GRUUs. Any one of the telephony-enabled devices can add a media component to the SIP communications. According to another aspect, a system and method of generating GRUUs is provided. According to another aspect, a system and method of handing off communications to a packet switched network from a circuit switched network is provided.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/813,473 filed on Mar. 9, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/296,879 filed on Mar. 8, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/589,612 filed on May8, 2017, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,243,921 on Mar. 26, 2019, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/218,874 filedon Jul. 25, 2016, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,681,000 on Jun. 13,2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/968,527 filed on Dec. 14, 2015, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,426,301on Aug. 23, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/699,589 filed on Apr. 29, 2015, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,215,143 on Dec. 15, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/758,358 filed on Feb. 4, 2013, and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,049,121 on Jun. 2, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/158,955, filed on Jun. 22, 2005, andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,002 on Mar. 19, 2013, the entire contentsof both are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

The application relates to telephony-enabled devices, and moreparticularly to globally unique device identifiers.

BACKGROUND

A mobile terminal may support voice and data communications usingcircuit switched networks and/or SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)networks. In some instances, it may be necessary to transfer all mediaor a media component of the communication between the circuit switchednetwork and the SIP network. In other instances, it may be necessary toadd media components using one network technology to an existingcommunication using another network technology. These particularinstances may be a result of the nature of the communication, the accesstechnology being used, and the QoS (Quality of Service) requirements ofthe communication.

A GRUU (Globally Routed User Agent URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)) isused to uniquely identify a terminal instance involved in acommunication. The GRUU is a SIP (Session Initiated Protocol) URIcurrently being defined within the IETF (Internet Engineering TaskForce) [J. Rosenberg, Obtaining and Using Globally Routable User Agent(UA) URIs (GRUU) in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), InternetEngineering Task Force, Feb. 21, 2005, expires on Aug. 22, 2005](hereinafter referred to as “Rosenberg” and hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety) for the purpose of uniquely identifying asingle SIP device or user agent instance where multiple SIP devices mayshare the same public user identity or AOR (address of record). A SIPUser Agent indicates that it supports the GRUU when it registers withthe SIP Registrar and also provides a unique instance identifier thatuniquely identifies the SIP User Agent. The SIP Registrar then generatesa GRUU based on the unique instance identifier and the registered AORand provides it to the SIP User Agent in a “SIP 200 OK” response to theSIP register request. The GRUU can then be used as a SIP URI tocommunicate with just that particular SIP User Agent even thoughmultiple SIP User Agents may be registered against the same public AOR.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example telephony-enabled device adaptedto exchange GRUUs with another telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example wireless device adapted toexchange GRUUs with another telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example telephony network in which GRUUsare generated by a network infrastructure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example SIP server adapted to generateGRUUs;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example telephony network in which GRUUsare generated locally by the telephony-enabled devices;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example method of generating a GRUU;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another example method of generating a GRUU;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method of establishing SIPcommunication between a first telephony-enabled device and a secondtelephony-enabled device;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method of executing SIPcommunication between a first telephony-enabled device and a secondtelephony-enabled device;

FIG. 10 is a signalling diagram of an example GRUU exchange between afirst telephony-enabled device and a second telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method of processing the absence ofa response to the first GRUU transmission.

FIG. 12 is a signalling diagram of another example GRUU exchange betweena first telephony-enabled device and a second telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an example method of sending a second GRUU toa first telephony-enabled device upon receiving a first GRUU from thefirst telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of another example wireless device adapted toexchange GRUUs with another telephony-enabled device;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an example method of handing off communicationfrom a circuit switched network to a packet switched network;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an example telephony network in which anetwork infrastructure determines whether or not a wireless deviceshould switch communication to a packet switched network; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example method of handing off communicationfrom a circuit switched network to a packet switched network;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of an example telephony network in which atelephony-enabled device may route SIP communications using a GRUU to acommon gateway used by the telephony-enabled device for a circuit switchcall;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an example method of handing off communicationfrom a circuit switched network to a packet switched network byestablishing SIP communication between a telephony-enabled device and agateway.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to a broad aspect, there is provided a method in a firsttelephony-enabled device of enabling packet switched communications witha second telephony-enabled device, the method comprising: obtaining afirst GUDI (globally unique device identifier); and sending the firstGUDI to the second telephony-enabled device via a first circuit switchedmessage; wherein if a second GUDI is received from the secondtelephony-enabled device, then packet-switched data is routable to thesecond telephony-enabled device using the second GUDI andpacket-switched data is routable to the first telephony-enabled deviceusing the first GUDI.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a telephony-enableddevice comprising a call processing function for enabling packetswitched communications with another telephony-enabled device byexecuting steps comprising: obtaining a first GUDI (globally uniquedevice identifier); and sending the first GUDI to the anothertelephony-enabled device via a first circuit switched message; whereinif a second GUDI is received from the another telephony-enabled device,then packet-switched data is routable to the another telephony-enableddevice using the second GUDI and packet-switched data is routable to thetelephony-enabled device using the first GUDI.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a telephony-enabled device so as to enable packet switchedcommunications with another telephony-enabled device by implementingsteps comprising: obtaining a first GUDI (globally unique deviceidentifier); and sending the first GUDI to the another telephony-enableddevice via a first circuit switched message; wherein if a second GUDI isreceived from the second telephony-enabled device, then packet-switcheddata is routable to the another telephony-enabled device using thesecond GUDI and packet-switched data is routable to thetelephony-enabled device using the first GUDI.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a wireless devicecomprising a call processing function for enabling packet switchedcommunications with a second telephony-enabled device by executing stepscomprising: obtaining a first GUDI (globally unique device identifier);and sending the first GUDI to the second telephony-enabled device via afirst circuit switched message; wherein if a second GUDI is receivedfrom the second telephony-enabled device, then packet-switched data isroutable to the second telephony-enabled device using the second GUDIand packet-switched data is routable to the wireless device using thefirst GUDI.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a wireless device so as to enable packet switchedcommunications with a second telephony-enabled device by implementingsteps comprising: obtaining a first GUDI (globally unique deviceidentifier); and sending the first GUDI to the second telephony-enableddevice via a first circuit switched message; wherein if a second GUDI isreceived from the second telephony-enabled device, then packet-switcheddata is routable to the second telephony-enabled device using the secondGUDI and packet-switched data is routable to the wireless device usingthe first GUDI.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method ofgenerating a GUDI (globally unique device identifier) for atelephony-enabled device, the method comprising: generating a GUDI usingat least one of the telephony-enabled device's unique ID and a user'sunique ID.

In some embodiments, the telephony-enabled device's unique ID is an IMEI(International mobile equipment identity) of the telephony-enableddevice; and the user's unique ID is an IMSI (International mobilesubscription identifier) of the telephony-enabled device.

In some embodiments, at least one of the telephony-enabled device'sunique ID and the user's unique ID are used to directly generate theGUDI.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: generating aninstance ID (identifier) from at least one of the telephony-enableddevice's unique ID and the user's unique ID; generating the GUDI fromthe instance ID and an AOR (address of record) of the telephony-enableddevice.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a packet switchednetwork element comprising a call processing function for generating aGUDI (globally unique device identifier) for a telephony-enabled deviceusing the telephony-enabled device's unique ID and a user's unique ID.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a packet switched network element so as to generate a GUDI(globally unique device identifier) for a telephony-enabled device usingthe telephony-enabled device's unique ID and a user's unique ID.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a wireless devicecomprising a GUDI generation function for generating a GUDI (globallyunique device identifier) for the wireless device by using the wirelessdevice's unique ID and a user's unique ID.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a wireless device so as to generate a GUDI (globally uniquedevice identifier) for the wireless device by using the wirelessdevice's unique ID and a user's unique ID.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method in awireless device of handing off communication from a wireless circuitswitched network to a wireless packet switched network, the methodcomprising: at some time during a circuit switched call with a secondtelephony-enabled device, the circuit switched call initially being viathe wireless circuit switched network: obtaining a GUDI (globally uniquedevice identifier) for the wireless device, the GUDI enablingpacket-switched data to be globally routed to the wireless device viathe wireless packet switched network; and handing off the communicationto the wireless packet switched network, the communication over thewireless packet switched network being via packet-switchedcommunication.

In some embodiments, the packet switched communication is VoIP (voiceover Internet Protocol) communication.

In some embodiments, the GUDI is reduced in size by at least onetransformation selected from a group of transformations consisting ofcompression, and truncation.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a wireless devicecomprising a call processing function for handing off communication froma wireless circuit switched network to a wireless packet switchednetwork by implementing steps comprising: at some time during a circuitswitched call with a second telephony-enabled device, the circuitswitched call initially being via the wireless circuit switched network:obtaining a GUDI (globally unique device identifier) for the wirelessdevice, the GUDI enabling packet-switched data to be globally routed tothe wireless device via the wireless packet switched network; andhanding off the communication to the wireless packet switched network,the communication over the wireless packet switched network being viapacket-switched communication.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a wireless device so as to hand off communication from awireless circuit switched network to a wireless packet switched networkby implementing steps comprising: at some time during a circuit switchedcall with a second telephony-enabled device, the circuit switched callinitially being via the wireless circuit switched network: obtaining aGUDI (globally unique device identifier) for the wireless device, theGUDI enabling packet-switched data to be globally routed to the wirelessdevice via the wireless packet switched network; and handing off thecommunication to the wireless packet switched network, the communicationover the wireless packet switched network being via packet-switchedcommunication.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method in awireless network element of handing off communications from a wirelesscircuit switched network to a wireless packet switched network, themethod comprising: at some time during a circuit switched call between awireless device and a second telephony-enabled device, the circuitswitched call initially being via the wireless circuit switched network:obtaining a GUDI (globally unique device identifier) for the wirelessdevice, the GUDI enabling packet-switched data to be globally routed tothe wireless device via the wireless packet switched network; handingoff the wireless access communication to the wireless packet switchednetwork, the communication over the wireless packet switched networkbeing via packet-switched communication.

In some embodiments handing off communication from the first circuitswitched network to the packet switched network comprises: receiving arequest for packet switched communications from the telephony enableddevice, and associated with the request receiving the GUDI from thetelephony enabled device; establishing the packet switched communicationbetween the gateway and the telephony-enabled device over the packetswitched network; the gateway performing media conversion on the packetswitched communication, and transmitting the converted media over thecircuit switched port associated with the received GUDI.

In some embodiments, the gateway uses the GUDI to provide a mapping forthe packet switched communications of the telephony-enabled device tothe circuit switched port.

In some embodiments, the packet switched communication is VoIP (voiceover Internet Protocol) communication.

In some embodiments, the GUDI is reduced in size by at least onetransformation selected from a group of transformations consisting ofcompression, and truncation.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a wireless networkelement comprising a call processing function for handing offcommunications from a wireless circuit switched network to a wirelesspacket switched network by implementing steps comprising: at some timeduring a circuit switched call between a wireless device and a secondtelephony-enabled device, the circuit switched call initially being viathe wireless circuit switched network: obtaining a GUDI (globally uniquedevice identifier) for the wireless device, the GUDI enablingpacket-switched data to be globally routed to the wireless device viathe wireless packet switched network; handing off the wireless accesscommunication to the wireless packet switched network, the communicationover the wireless packet switched network being via packet-switchedcommunication.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a wireless network element so as to hand off communicationsfrom a wireless circuit switched network to a wireless packet switchednetwork by implementing steps comprising: at some time during a circuitswitched call between a wireless device and another telephony-enableddevice, the circuit switched call initially being via the wirelesscircuit switched network: obtaining a GUDI (globally unique deviceidentifier) for the wireless device, the GUDI enabling packet-switcheddata to be globally routed to the wireless device via the wirelesspacket switched network; handing off the wireless access communicationto the wireless packet switched network, the communication over thewireless packet switched network being via packet-switchedcommunication.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a method in agateway of handing off communications from a first circuit switchednetwork to a packet switched network, the method comprising: at sometime during a circuit switched call routed between a telephony-enableddevice and a second circuit switched network via the first circuitswitched network, the gateway, and a circuit switched port to the secondcircuit switched network: obtaining a GUDI (globally unique deviceidentifier) for the circuit switched port; communicating the GUDI to thetelephony-enabled device, the GUDI enabling packet-switchedcommunication to be globally routed from the telephony-enabled device tothe circuit switched port via the packet switched network; and handingoff communication from the first circuit switched network to the packetswitched network.

In some embodiments, the second circuit switched network is a PSTN(publicly switched telephone network).

In some embodiments, the packet switched communication is VoIP (voiceover Internet Protocol) communication.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided a gatewaycomprising a gateway control function for handing off communicationsfrom a first circuit switched network to a packet switched network byimplementing steps comprising: at some time during a circuit switchedcall routed between a telephony-enabled device and a second circuitswitched network via the first circuit switched network, the gateway,and a circuit switched port to the second circuit switched network:obtaining a GUDI (globally unique device identifier) for the circuitswitched port; communicating the GUDI to the telephony-enabled device,the GUDI enabling packet-switched communication to be globally routedfrom the telephony-enabled device to the circuit switched port via thepacket switched network; and handing off communication from the firstcircuit switched network to the packet switched network.

According to another broad aspect, there is provided A computer readablemedium having computer executable instructions stored thereon forexecution on a gateway so as to hand off communications from a firstcircuit switched network to a packet switched network by implementingsteps comprising: at some time during a circuit switched call routedbetween a telephony-enabled device and a second circuit switched networkvia the first circuit switched network, the gateway, and a circuitswitched port to the second circuit switched network:

obtaining a GUDI (globally unique device identifier) for the circuitswitched port; communicating the GUDI to the telephony-enabled device,the GUDI enabling packet-switched communication to be globally routedfrom the telephony-enabled device to the circuit switched port via thepacket switched network; and handing off communication from the firstcircuit switched network to the packet switched network.

Circuit switched networks address terminals using E.164 telephonenumbers while SIP networks address terminals using URLs (either SIP URLsor E.164 telephone number URLs). In both network types, the same E.164telephone number or URL may address multiple terminals. Therefore, inorder to add or transfer a media component using a different networkarchitecture, it is necessary to identify and address the same terminalinstance as involved in the existing communication and exchange theseidentities between the participating parties.

Although each terminal will likely have an IP address for IP datagramcommunications, this IP Address may not be globally routable between twomobile terminals and also the SIP network may require that SIP signalingmessages route via certain SIP proxies. Therefore the exchange and useof the terminals' IP Addresses is not a general solution. Accordingly,in order to achieve circuit-switched and packet-switched integration,there is a need to provide a system and method for exchanging GRUUsbetween two terminals to reach the same device for packet-switchedcommunications as is being used for circuit-switched communications.

Telephony-Enabled Devices

Referring now to FIG. 1 , shown is a block diagram of an exampletelephony-enabled device 10 adapted to communicate using circuitswitched and packet switched communications separately orsimultaneously, and exchange GRUUs with another telephony-enableddevice. The telephony-enabled device may for example be a wirelessdevice, or a wireline device. The telephony-enabled device 10 has aprocessor 11 coupled to a call processing function 12.

In some embodiments, the GRUU that is exchanged is identical to the GRUUdefined in Rosenberg. In other embodiments, a different definition ofthe GRUU is contemplated. More generally, any GUDI (globally uniquedevice identifier) appropriate for use in packet switched communicationssuch as IP (Internet protocol) may be employed withimplementation-specific modifications, as may be appropriate. In theexamples that follow, it is to be understood that references to GRUUsmade throughout may refer to GRUUs as defined in Rosenberg, or any otherappropriate definition.

In operation, the telephony-enabled device 10 is adapted to communicateusing circuit switched and packet switched communications separately orsimultaneously. Circuit switched communication may include, for example,a voice call. Packet switched communication may include any data, forexample, streaming video data or VoIP (Voice over IP). According to oneaspect, the call processing function 12 operates to provide thetelephony-enabled device 10 with functionality of exchanging GRUUs withanother telephony-enabled device using circuit switched messages.Details of how this may be accomplished are discussed later withreference to FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, the call processing function12 is software implemented and may be executed by the processor 11.However, more generally, the call processing function 12 may beimplemented as software, hardware, firmware, or as any appropriatecombination of software, hardware and firmware.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , shown is a block diagram of an examplewireless device 20 adapted to communicate using circuit switched andpacket switched communications separately or simultaneously, andexchange GRUUs with another telephony-enabled device. The wirelessdevice 20 has a processor 21 coupled to a wireless access radio 23 and acall processing function 22.

In operation, the wireless device 20 is adapted to communicatewirelessly over a wireless communication network, for example a cellularnetwork (not shown), using the wireless access radio 23. The wirelessdevice 20 is adapted to communicate using circuit switched and packetswitched communications separately or simultaneously. Circuit switchedcommunication may include, for example, a voice call. Packet switchedcommunication may include any data, for example, streaming video data.According to one aspect, the call processing function 22 operates toprovide the wireless device 20 with functionality of exchanging GRUUswith another telephony-enabled device using circuit switched messages.Details of how this may be accomplished are discussed later withreference to FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, the call processing function22 is software implemented and may be executed by the processor 21.However, more generally, the call processing function 22 may beimplemented as software, hardware, firmware, or as any appropriatecombination of software, hardware and firmware.

The devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 show only functionality relevant to theaspects described herein. It is to be understood that practicalimplementations would include additional functionality to that shown.

Telephony-Enabled Network

Referring now to FIG. 3 , shown is a block diagram of an exampletelephony network in which GRUUs are generated by a networkinfrastructure 80. The network infrastructure 80 is coupled to a firsttelephony-enabled device 70 and a second telephony-enabled device 90.The first telephony-enabled device 70 has a call processing function 71.The network infrastructure 80 has a GRUU generation function 81, acircuit switched network 82, and a packet switched network 83. In someembodiments, the GRUU generation function 81 is implemented in a SIPserver (not shown) residing within the network infrastructure 80. Thesecond telephony-enabled device 90 has a call processing function 91.

The circuit switched network 82 and the packet switched network 83provide infrastructure for allowing the two telephony enabled devices70,90 to communicate using circuit switched communications and packetswitched communications simultaneously or separately. The nature of thisinfrastructure will depend partly on the nature of the two devices70,90. If one or both of the devices are wireless devices, then theinfrastructure will include wireless access infrastructure. Furthermore,the infrastructure may include wireless and/or wireline PSTN (publicswitched telephone network) equipment and private or public packetnetwork infrastructure.

While only two telephony enabled devices are shown, the networkinfrastructure would support multiple such devices. The connectionsbetween the devices and the infrastructure may be permanent or dynamicin nature.

In operation, the first telephony-enabled device 70 and the secondtelephony-enabled device 90 are adapted to communicate with one anotherusing circuit switched communications over the circuit switched network82 and packet switched communications over the packet switched network83. The call processing function 71 and the call processing function 91each operate to provide the first telephony-enabled device 70 and thesecond telephony-enabled device 90, respectively, with functionality ofexchanging GRUUs with one another using circuit switched messages.Details of how this may be accomplished are discussed later withreference to FIG. 8 . The GRUU generation function 81 is adapted togenerate a GRUU for a given telephony-enabled device from two or morevariables of the telephony-enabled device in such a manner that eachGRUU is unique.

In some embodiments, the two or more variables of the telephony-enableddevice include an instance ID (identifier) and an AOR (address ofrecord). The GRUU as defined by Rosenberg utilises these two variables.The instance ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies a SIP useragent amongst all other user agents associated with an AOR. The instanceID is represented by a URI that is a valid URN (uniform resource name).In some embodiments, the GRUU generation function 81 is implemented in apacket switched communications server or a SIP server (not shown)residing within the network infrastructure 80.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , shown is a block diagram of an example SIPserver 30 adapted to generate GRUUs. The SIP server 30 has a processor31 coupled to a GRUU generation function 32. The GRUU generationfunction 32 is adapted to generate a GRUU. A telephony-enabled deviceprovides variables, for example an instance ID (identifier) and an AOR,to the SIP server in a SIP REGISTER request message. The SIP serverregisters the telephony-enabled device and uses the variables togenerate the GRUU. In some embodiments, the GRUU is generated usingconcatenation of the variables. In other embodiments, the GRUU isgenerated using a mathematical function of the variables. In furtherembodiments, the mathematical function is not publicly known forsecurity reasons. In some embodiments, the mathematical function hasanother input for an encryption key. Once generated, the SIP serverprovides the GRUU to the first telephony-enabled device in a “SIP 200OK” response message. In some embodiments, the GRUU generation function32 is software implemented and may be executed by the processor 31.However, more generally, the GRUU generation function 32 may beimplemented as software, hardware, firmware, or as any appropriatecombination of software, hardware and firmware.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , shown is a block diagram of an exampletelephony network in which GRUUs are generated locally by thetelephony-enabled devices. The telephony network has a networkinfrastructure 50 coupled to a first telephony-enabled device 40 and asecond telephony-enabled device 60. The first telephony-enabled device40 has a call processing function 41 and a GRUU generation function 42.The second telephony-enabled device 60 has a call processing function 61and a second GRUU generation function 62. The network infrastructure 50has a circuit switched network 52 and a packet switched network 53.

In operation, the components in FIG. 5 function much like the componentsin FIG. 3 with exception to the generation of GRUUs. In the telephonynetwork of FIG. 3 , GRUU generation is implemented within the networkinfrastructure. However, in the telephony network of FIG. 5 , GRUUgeneration is implemented locally within the telephony-enabled devices.In the illustrated example, GRUU generation is implemented by GRUUgeneration functions 42,62, but more generally this can be done by anyfunction within the devices. Upon generating a GRUU, each of thetelephony-enabled devices 40, 60 informs the network infrastructure 50of its respective GRUU, and the network infrastructure can subsequentlyroute messages using the GRUUs.

GRUU Generation

There are many ways of generating a GRUU and there are many variablesthat can be used to generate a GRUU.

In some embodiments, the GRUU is generated using the terminal's uniqueID and the user's unique ID. Referring now to FIG. 6 , shown is aflowchart of an example method of generating a GRUU. This method may beimplemented by a network infrastructure, for example by the GRUUgeneration function 81 of the network infrastructure 80 of FIG. 3 or bythe GRUU generation function 32 of the SIP server 30 of FIG. 4 . Moregenerally, this method may be implemented in any appropriate packetswitched element (not shown) with a call processing function within thenetwork infrastructure 80 of FIG. 3 . This method may also beimplemented locally within a telephony-enabled device, for example bythe call processing function 41 of the first telephony-enabled device 40of FIG. 5 and by the call processing function 61 of the secondtelephony-enabled device 60 of FIG. 5 . At step 6-1, the GRUU isgenerated using the terminal's unique ID and the user's unique ID.

The nature of the terminal's unique ID and the user's unique ID aredependant upon the system. In the case of a GSM system, this might forexample be an IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) of thetelephony-enabled device and an IMSI (International mobile subscriptionidentifier) of the user, respectively.

In the example provided, a GRUU is generated using both the terminal'sunique ID and the user's unique ID. However, more generally, a GRUU maybe generated using at least one of the terminal's unique ID and theuser's unique ID, as both are not required for generating a GRUU.

In other embodiments, the GRUU is generated using the AOR and instanceID of the telephony-enabled device such that the instance ID isgenerated using the terminal's unique ID and the user's unique ID.Referring now to FIG. 7 , shown is a flowchart of another example methodof generating a GRUU. This method may be implemented by a networkinfrastructure, for example by the GRUU generation function 81 of thenetwork infrastructure 80 of FIG. 3 or by the GRUU generation function32 of the SIP server 30 of FIG. 4 . This method may also be implementedlocally within a telephony-enabled device, for example by the callprocessing function 41 of the first telephony-enabled device 40 of FIG.5 and by the call processing function 61 of the second telephony-enableddevice 60 of FIG. 5 . At step 7-1, the terminal's unique ID and theuser's unique ID are used to generate an instance ID, which is then usedalong with an AOR to generate a GRUU at step 7-2.

In the example provided, an instance ID is generated using both theterminal's unique ID and the user's unique ID. However, more generally,an instance ID may be generated using at least one of the terminal'sunique ID and the user's unique ID, as both are not required forgenerating an instance ID.

The nature of the terminal's unique ID and the user's unique ID aredependant upon the system. In the case of a GSM system, this might forexample be an IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) of thetelephony-enabled device and an IMSI (International mobile subscriptionidentifier) of the user, respectively.

An example of GRUU generation is presented here. The GRUU is generatedfrom Public Identity (AOR), IMEI and IMSI. The GRUU generated may havethe form sip:user.imei.subscriberID@ims.mnc.mcc.3gppnetwork.org. In someimplementations, IMEI, MCC, MNC and SubscriberID are hexadecimal values.An example generated GRUU is as follows:sip:joeBloggs.0004589715336211.012987543807426@ims.mnc003.mcc234.3gppnetwork.orgIn some implementations, an instance ID is aligned withthe URN definition found in [R. Moats, URN Syntax RFC 2141, NetworkWorking Group, May 1997] (hereinafter reefed to as “Moats” and herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety). The instance ID follows theformat of +sip.instance=“urn:foo:1” in Moats.

GRUU Exchange and Use

Referring now to FIG. 8 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofestablishing SIP communication between a first telephony-enabled deviceand a second telephony-enabled device. The method steps are executed bythe first telephony-enabled device to try to exchange GRUUs. This methodmay be implemented in a telephony-enabled device, for example by thecall processing function 12 of the telephony-enabled device 10 of FIG. 7or by the call processing function 22 of the wireless device 20 of FIG.8 .

The first telephony-enabled device registers with a SIP server andacquires a first GRUU at step 8-1. The first telephony-enabled devicesends the first GRUU to the second telephony-enabled device via acircuit switched message at step 8-2. If at step 8-3 the firsttelephony-enabled device receives a second GRUU from the secondtelephony-enabled device, then at step 8-4 SIP communication with thesecond telephony-enabled device is routable using the GRUUs. The secondGRUU can be received in a packet switched message, for example a SIPmessage, or in a circuit switched message.

In some embodiments, if no second GRUU is received, an assumption ismade by the first telephony-enabled device that the secondtelephony-enabled device is not capable of integrated SIP and CircuitSwitched communications. In other embodiments, if the second GRUU is notreceived from the second telephony-enabled device, then the firsttelephony-enabled device processes the absence of the second GRUU, asshown at step 1-5. Various specific examples of such processing aregiven further below.

There are many ways in which the first GRUU can be acquired. In someembodiments, as described previously with reference to FIGS. 12 and 4 ,the first GRUU is generated by the SIP server and is provided to thefirst telephony-enabled device during the SIP registration procedure. Inother embodiments, the first telephony-enabled device generates thefirst GRUU locally and informs the SIP server of the GRUU.

In some embodiments, the GRUUs are exchanged during an active circuitswitched call. Advantageously, once the GRUUs have been exchanged duringa circuit switched call, SIP messages may be exchanged. In otherembodiments, the GRUUs are exchanged during the setup procedure of acircuit switched call. In further embodiments, the GRUUs are exchangedat some time before a circuit switched call is setup.

A “circuit switched message” is a term used throughout to include anymessage routed using E.164 telephone numbers, or any message traversinga physical path dedicated to a single connection between two end-pointsin a network for the duration of the connection. This definition doesnot include messages routed using a URI (universal resource identifier),even if the URI has been translated from an E.164 number. There are manykinds of “circuit switched messages” that can be used to send the firstGRUU to the second telephony-enabled device. In some implementations,the first GRUU is sent via an ISUP (ISDN (integrated services digitalnetwork) user part) message. In other implementations, the first GRUU issent via an SMS (short message service) message. In otherimplementations, the first GRUU is sent via a USSD (unstructuredsupplementary service data) message. In other implementations, the firstGRUU is sent via a MMS (multimedia messaging service) message. In otherimplementations, the first GRUU is sent via a BICC (bearer independentcall control) message. In further implementations, the first GRUU issent via a plurality of circuit switched messages of varying kinds.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofexecuting SIP communication between a first telephony-enabled device anda second telephony-enabled device (step 8-4 of FIG. 1 ). If the secondGRUU is received, then at step 9-1 SIP communication between the firsttelephony-enabled device and the second telephony-enabled device isroutable using the GRUUs. At step 9-2, the first telephony-enableddevice obtains SIP capabilities of the second telephony-enabled device.This is accomplished, for example, by sending a SIP OPTIONS requestmessage to the second GRUU. A return message indicates SIP capabilitiesof the second telephony-enabled device. At step 9-3, the firsttelephony-enabled device executes SIP communication with the secondtelephony-enabled device within the capabilities of the twotelephony-enabled devices. This may include, for example, adding a SIPmedia component by sending a SIP INVITE request message addressed to thesecond GRUU.

Referring now to FIG. 10 , shown is a signaling diagram of an exampleGRUU exchange between a first telephony-enabled device and a secondtelephony-enabled device. This example signaling demonstrates asuccessful exchange of GRUUs using ISUP messages. In the following, a“setup message”, “initial address message”, “alerting message”, “addresscomplete message”, “connect message”, and “answer message” are allexamples of ISUP messages. ISUP messages contain a UUS (user to usersignaling) information element. In some implementations, a GRUU is sentas an UUS information element in an ISUP message. The firsttelephony-enabled device 100 sends a first GRUU in a “setup message” 103to the second telephony-enabled device 101. Within the networkinfrastructure 102, the call control A receives the “setup message” 103and generates an “initial address message” 104 and sends it to the callcontrol B. The call control B receives the “initial address message”104, generates the “setup message” 105, and sends it to the secondtelephony-enabled device 101. The second telephony-enabled device 101receives the “setup message” 105, which contains the first GRUU, andresponds with an “alerting message” 106, which contains a second GRUU.The call control B receives the “alerting message” 106, generates an“address complete message” 107, and sends it to the call control A. Thecall control A receives the “address complete message” 107, generatesthe “alerting message” 108, and sends it to the first telephony-enableddevice 100. Once the first telephony-enabled device 100 receives the“alerting message” 108, both telephony-enabled devices 100,101 have eachother's GRUUs. The second telephony-enabled device 101 sends a “connectmessage” 109 to the first telephony-enabled device 100 if the secondtelephony-enabled device 101 is answering a call.

Referring now to FIG. 11 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofprocessing the absence of a response to the first GRUU transmission(step 8-5 of FIG. 1 ). if the second GRUU is not received at step 11-1,then at step 11-2 the first telephony-enabled device re-attempts toacquire the second GRUU. If at step 11-3 the re-attempt to acquire thesecond GRUU succeeds, then at step 11-4 SIP communication with thesecond telephony-enabled device is routable using the GRUUs. However, ifat step 11-3 the re-attempt to acquire the second GRUU does not succeed,then at step 11-5 the first telephony-enabled device determines that thesecond telephony-enabled device does not support SIP communicationintegrated with circuit switched communications.

There is no guarantee that if the first GRUU is sent to the secondtelephony-enabled device that it will be received. Furthermore, there isno guarantee that if the second telephony-enabled device receives thefirst GRUU that it will understand what to do with it. Therefore, insome embodiments, in absence of the second GRUU, the firsttelephony-enabled device re-sends the first GRUU using a different typeof circuit switched message. In some embodiments, until a predeterminednumber of re-send messages are sent without receiving a response and thefirst telephony-enable device re-sends the first GRUU from time to timeto the second telephony-enabled device via another circuit switchedmessage.

Referring now to FIG. 12 , shown is a signaling diagram of anotherexample GRUU exchange between a first telephony-enabled device 200 and asecond telephony-enabled device 201. This example signaling demonstratespossible re-attempts during an unsuccessful exchange of GRUUs. If theISUP messages (i.e. ISDN user part call setup 203) does not succeed inexchanging GRUUs, then the first GRUU is sent to the secondtelephony-enabled device 201 via an SMS message, MMS message and/or USSDmessage 204. The networks 202 receive the SMS message, MMS messageand/or USSD message 204 and generates a SMS message, MMS message and/orUSSD message 205 for the second telephony-enabled device 201. For asuccessful reattempt to exchange GRUUs, the networks 202 receive the SMSmessage, MMS message and/or USSD message 206 from the secondtelephony-enabled device 201 and generates a SMS message, MMS messageand/or USSD message 207 for the first telephony-enabled device 201.

In some implementations, the first telephony-enabled device sets a timerupon sending the set-up message. In some implementations, if the timerexpires before the second GRUU is received, then the firsttelephony-enabled device sends the first GRUU along with other terminalcapabilities to the second telephony-enabled device via a SMS or MMSmessage. In some implementations, the first telephony-enabled devicesets a timer upon sending the set-up SMS or MMS message. In someimplementations, if the timer expires before the second GRUU isreceived, then the first telephony-enabled device sends the first GRUUalong with other terminal capabilities to the second telephony-enableddevice via a USSD message. In other implementations, the firsttelephony-enabled device sends the first GRUU to the secondtelephony-enabled device via a plurality of circuit switched messageswithout waiting for any timer expiry. Other implementations can becontemplated.

With reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 11 , methods implemented in a firsttelephony-enabled device for exchanging GRUUs have been described. Thesecond telephony-enabled device has been described to participate in theexchange of GRUUs. Referring now to FIG. 13 , shown is a flowchart of anexample method of sending a second GRUU to a first telephony-enableddevice upon receiving a first GRUU from the first telephony-enableddevice. This method may be implemented in a telephony-enabled device,for example by the call processing function 12 of the telephony-enableddevice 10 or by the call processing function 22 of the wireless device20. At step 13-1, a first GRUU is received from the firsttelephony-enabled device via a circuit switched message, then at step13-2 a second GRUU is sent to the first telephony-enabled device via acircuit switched message.

As described previously with reference to FIG. 8 , there are many kindsof circuit switched messages that can be received and sent forexchanging GRUUs. In some implementations, the second telephony-enableddevice sends the second GRUU using the same kind of circuit switchedmessage as the received circuit switched message. For example, if anISUP message containing the first GRUU is received, then the secondtelephony-enabled device sends the second GRUU via an ISUP message. Asanother example, if a MT (mobile terminated) SMS message containing thefirst GRUU is received, then the second telephony-enabled device sendsthe second GRUU via a MO (mobile originated) SMS message.

With reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 11 , methods implemented in a firsttelephony-enabled device for exchanging GRUUs have been described. Withreference to FIG. 13 , a method implemented in a secondtelephony-enabled device has been described. In some embodiments, atelephony-enabled device implementing the methods of FIGS. 8, 9, and 11as an initiator of GRUU exchange also implement the methods of FIG. 13as a non-initiator of GRUU exchange and vice versa. Labeling atelephony-enabled device as being a “first” or a “second”telephony-enabled device is arbitrary. More generally, all methodsdescribed with reference to a “first” or a “second” telephony-enableddevice may be implemented in any telephony-enabled device.

Wireless Network Handoff

The use of GRUUs to add packet switched communication to an existingcircuit switched communication has been described. The scenario of usingGRUUs to handoff circuit switched communication to packet switchedconnection will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 .

Referring now to FIG. 14 , shown is a block diagram of another examplewireless device 120 adapted to exchange GRUUs with anothertelephony-enabled device. The wireless device 120 has a processor 121coupled to a first wireless radio 123, a call processing function 122,and a second wireless radio 124.

In operation, the wireless device 120 is adapted to perform allfunctionality previously described for the wireless device 20 of FIG. 2. Therefore, this description is not repeated here. The first wirelessradio 123 is adapted to communicate with a wireless circuit switchednetwork, for example a cellular network (not shown). The second wirelessradio 124 is adapted to communicate with a wireless packet switchednetwork, for example a WLAN (wireless local area network) (not shown) ora BT (Bluetooth) network (not shown). Communicating with a particularwireless network can be implementation specific. In the case ofcommunicating with a WLAN network, the second wireless radio 124 may bea WLAN radio. In the case of communicating with a BT network, the secondwireless radio 124 may be a BT radio.

The wireless device 120 shows only functionality relevant to the aspectsdescribed herein. It is to be understood that practical implementationswould include additional functionality to that shown.

Referring now to FIG. 15 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofhanding off communication from a circuit switched network to a packetswitched network. This method may be implemented in a wireless devicecapable of communicating with a wireless circuit switched network and apacket switched network, for example by the call processing function 122of the wireless device 120 shown in FIG. 14 .

At step 15-1, the wireless device is in a circuit switched call with asecond telephony-enabled device via a circuit switched network. If atstep 15-2 the wireless device determines that it should attempt tohandoff communications to a packet switched network, then at step 15-3the wireless device registers with a SIP server via the packet switchednetwork and obtains a GRUU if the wireless device has not already doneso prior to determining that it should attempt to handover communicationto the packet switched network. At step 15-4, communication with thesecond telephony-enabled device is possible via packet switchedcommunication, for example VoIP (voice over IP) via SIP signalingmessages, over the packet switched network. Generally, it is the SIPsignaling messages that are addressed using the GRUU and then via thesignaling messages the IP addresses for the VoIP or other session dataare negotiated. At step 15-5, the wireless communication via the circuitswitched network is dropped. The second telephony-enabled device isunaware that the wireless device has handed over communication to thepacket switched network.

There are many ways in which the wireless device may determine that itshould attempt to handoff communication to the packet switched network.In some implementations, if signal strength from the circuit switchednetwork has degraded and a packet switched network is readily available,then the wireless device attempts to switch to the packet switchednetwork.

There are many possibilities for the circuit switched network and thepacket switched network. For example, the circuit switched network maybe a GSM (global system for mobile communications) network or UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or CDMA 2000 network andthe packet switched network may include a WLAN (wireless local areanetwork) or a PAN (personal area network).

There are many ways in which the wireless device may acquire the GRUU.Many ways of obtaining GRUUs have already been discussed and aretherefore not repeated.

In the example method described with reference to FIG. 15 , the wirelessdevice determines whether or not it should handoff communication to apacket switched network. In other embodiments, the networkinfrastructure determines whether or not the wireless device shouldhandoff communication to a packet switched network.

Referring now to FIG. 16 , shown is a block diagram of an exampletelephony network in which a network infrastructure determines whetheror not a wireless device should handover communication from a circuitswitched network to a packet switched network. The networkinfrastructure 85 is coupled to a wireless device 75 and a secondtelephony-enabled device 95. The first telephony-enabled device 75 has acall processing function 76. The network infrastructure 85 has a callhandoff function 86, a circuit switched network 87, and a packetswitched network 88. In some embodiments, the call handoff function 86is implemented in a SIP server (not shown) residing within the networkinfrastructure 85.

The circuit switched network 87 and the packet switched network 88provide infrastructure for allowing the wireless device 75 and thesecond telephony-enabled device 95 to communicate using circuit switchedcommunications and packet switched communications simultaneously orseparately. More particularly, the wireless device 75 is provided withinfrastructure for allowing wireless circuit switched communications andwireless packet switched communications simultaneously or separately.The network infrastructure 85 may have components and functionalityfurther to that shown. The network infrastructure 85 includes wirelessaccess infrastructure and may include wireless and/or wireline PSTN(public switched telephone network) equipment and private or publicpacket network infrastructure.

The wireless device 75 may be any wireless device capable of circuitswitched communication with the circuit switched network 87 and packetswitched communication with the packet switched network 88. The wirelessdevice 75 is also capable of having packet switched communicationsrouted to it using a GRUU. As described previously, the GRUU can begenerated locally by the wireless device or by the networkinfrastructure. The GRUU can also be generated by a SIP server residingwithin the network infrastructure. The wireless device may, for example,be the wireless device 120 shown in FIG. 14 .

While only two telephony enabled devices are shown, the networkinfrastructure would support multiple such devices. The connectionsbetween the devices and the infrastructure may be permanent or dynamicin nature.

In operation, during a circuit switched call between the wireless device75 and the second telephony-enabled device 95, the networkinfrastructure 85 determines whether or not the wireless device shouldhand off communication from a circuit switched network to a packetswitched network.

Referring now to FIG. 17 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofhanding off communication from a circuit switched network to a packetswitched network. This method may be implemented in a networkinfrastructure, for example by the call handoff function 86 of thenetwork infrastructure 85 of FIG. 16 . More generally, this method maybe implemented in any appropriate wireless network element (not shown)with a call handoff function within the network infrastructure 85 ofFIG. 16 .

At step 17-1, the network infrastructure is handling a circuit switchedcall between a wireless device and a second telephony-enabled device.The wireless device communicates during the circuit switched call via acircuit switched network. If at step 17-2 the network infrastructuredetermines that it should attempt to handoff communication to the packetswitched network, then at step 17-3 the network infrastructure acquiresa GRUU for the wireless device if the network infrastructure has notalready done so prior to determining that it should attempt to handovercommunication to the packet switched network. At step 17-4, packetswitched communications, for example VoIP (voice over TP) via SIPsignaling messages, can be routed to the wireless device via the packetswitched network using the GRUU. The GRUU is acquired using any mannerpreviously discussed. At step 17-5, the communication via the circuitswitched network is dropped. The second telephony-enabled device remainsunaware that the network infrastructure has handed over communication tothe packet switched network.

There are many ways in which the network infrastructure may determine ifit should attempt to hand over communication from the circuit switchednetwork to the packet switched network. In some implementations, ifwireless access network signal strength to and from the wireless devicehas degraded and packet switched network access is readily available,then the network infrastructure attempts to hand over the communicationto the packet switched network.

There are many possibilities for the circuit switched network and thepacket switched network. For example, the circuit switched network maybe a GSM (global system for mobile communications) network or UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or CDMA 2000 network. Thepacket switched network may include a WLAN (wireless local area network)or a PAN (personal area network).

Wireless Network Handoff Via Gateway

Referring now to FIG. 18 , shown is a block diagram of an exampletelephony network in which a telephony-enabled device may route SIPcommunications using a GRUU to a common gateway used by thetelephony-enabled device for both circuit switch and packet switchedcommunication. A telephony-enabled device 45 has a call processingfunction 46. The telephony-enabled device 45 is capable of communicatingusing a circuit switched network 56 and a packet switched network 57,which are each coupled to a gateway 57. The gateway 57 has a gatewaycontrol function 58 and a plurality of circuit switched ports 66 to aPSTN (publicly switched telephone network) 65.

In operation, the telephony-enabled device 45 is adapted to communicateusing circuit switched and packet switched communications separately orsimultaneously using the circuit switched network 56 and the packetswitched network 57. Circuit switched communication may include, forexample, a voice call. Packet switched communication may include anydata, for example, streaming video data or VoIP (Voice over IP). Thegateway control function 58 is adapted to acquire a GRUU for eachcircuit switch port 66 and use it for mapping to circuit switched callsfor PSTN inter-working. In some embodiments, the gateway controlfunction 58 is software implemented and is executed by a processor.However, more generally, the gateway control function 58 may beimplemented as software, hardware, firmware, or as any appropriatecombination of software, hardware and firmware.

In some implementations, the gateway is a combined SIP media gatewaycontroller and gateway MSC (mobile switching centre). In otherimplementations, a SIP media gateway controller and a gateway MSC areimplemented as separate components.

Referring now to FIG. 19 , shown is a flowchart of an example method ofhanding off communication from a circuit switched network to a packetswitched network by establishing SIP communication between atelephony-enabled device and a gateway. This method may be implementedin a gateway, for example by the gateway control function 58 of thegateway 59 shown in FIG. 18 . At step 19-1, for each circuit switchedport having an active circuit switched call, the gateway acquires a GRUUfor the circuit switched port and communicates the GRUU to thetelephony-enabled device involved with the circuit switchedcommunication over the circuit switched port. At step 19-2, thetelephony-enabled device is able to route SIP communications, forexample VoIP via SIP signaling messages, to the circuit switched port ofthe gateway via the packet switched network using the received GRUU. Thegateway provides a mapping between the SIP communications from thetelephony-enabled device and the circuit switched port. The gateway mayuse a received GRUU from the telephony-enabled device to route circuitswitched communications from the circuit switched port to thetelephony-enabled device via the packet switched network. At step 19-3,the circuit switched communications is replaced by the SIPcommunications. Communications from the circuit switched network to thepacket switched network has been handed off.

As previously described, the GRUUs may be generated within atelephony-enabled device, for example by a call processing function of atelephony-enabled device, or within the network infrastructure, forexample by a gateway control function of a gateway.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Many references to SIP and SIP communications have been made throughout.However, more generally, implementations are contemplated in which anypacket-switched communication is utilized. Other packet-switchedcommunication protocols can be contemplated with implementation-specificand/or protocol-specific modifications apparent to one ordinarilyskilled in the art. Examples of other packet-switched communicationprotocols that may be implemented include H.323, and MGCP (Media GatewayControl Protocol).

Previous examples have illustrated that a GRUU can be sent in a circuitswitched message, for example a “setup” ISUP message. Various circuitswitched messages, in some implementations, may have transportlimitations that limit the size of a GRUU that can be sent. In suchcases, depending on the size of a GRUU, the GRUU may be too large fortransport by a single circuit switched message. There are many ways toovercome such limitations. In some implementations, a GRUU is compressedusing any appropriate compression function. In other implementations, aGRUU is truncated so that its size is sufficiently small enough fortransport while allowing the receiving party to deduce the truncatedpart. In other implementations, the GRUU is split into two or morecomponents for transport in separate circuit switched messages. In otherimplementations, multiple of the above implementations are employed.Transformations to limit the size of a GRUU may be implemented locallywithin a telephony-enabled device, or within a network infrastructure.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present application arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the applicationmay be practised otherwise than as specifically described herein.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patentdocument or patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

We claim:
 1. A method in a first mobile device for handing off a circuitswitched (CS) communication with a second mobile device from a CSnetwork to a packet switched (PS) network, the method comprising:determining that the first mobile device should attempt to handoff theCS communication to the PS network; sending a first identity, whereinthe first identity is sent in an information element of a cellularprotocol message; sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messagefor a PS communication, the SIP message including a second identity in aformat of a Unified Resource Name (URN) in an instance identifier (ID)contained within the SIP message, wherein the CS communication and thePS communication originate from the mobile device when the firstidentity matches the second identity; continuing the PS communicationwith the second mobile device via the PS network; and dropping the CScommunication with the second mobile device.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the first identity comprises a first InternationalMobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and the second identity comprises asecond IMEI.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the IMEIuniquely identifies the first mobile device.
 4. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies the first mobile device asa participant in the CS communication over a cellular network and as asource in the PS communication over a PS network.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: sending the cellular protocolmessage from the first mobile device to a cellular network.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising: sending the SIP messagefrom the first mobile device to a PS network.
 7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the CS communication comprises a voice call and the PScommunication comprises at least one of streaming video data and a Voiceover IP (VoIP) communication.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured inaccordance with an unstructured supplementary service data messageprotocol.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cellularprotocol message is configured in accordance with a short messageservice message protocol.
 10. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe cellular protocol message is configured in accordance with amultimedia message service message protocol.
 11. A mobile device forhanding off a circuit switched (CS) communication with a second mobiledevice from a CS network to a packet switched (PS) network, the mobiledevice comprising a wireless radio, the mobile device being configuredto: determine that the mobile device should attempt to handoff the CScommunication to the PS network; send, by the wireless radio, a firstidentity wherein the first identity is sent in an information element ofa cellular protocol message; send, by the wireless radio, a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) message for a PS communication, the SIPmessage including a second identity in a format of a Unified ResourceName (URN) in an instance identifier (ID) contained within the SIPmessage, wherein the CS communication and the PS communication originatefrom the mobile device when the first identity matches the secondidentity; continue the PS communication with the second mobile devicevia the PS network; and drop the CS communication with the second mobiledevice.
 12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the firstidentity comprises a first International Mobile Equipment Identity(IMEI) and the second identity comprises a second IMEI.
 13. The mobiledevice according to claim 12, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies themobile device.
 14. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein theIMEI uniquely identifies the mobile device as a participant in the CScommunication over a cellular network and as a source in the PScommunication over a PS network.
 15. The mobile device according toclaim 11, wherein the mobile device is further configured to: send, bythe wireless radio, the cellular protocol message from the mobile deviceto a cellular network.
 16. The method according to claim 11, wherein themobile device is further configured to: send, by the wireless radio, theSIP message from the mobile device to a PS network.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the CS communication comprises a voicecall and the PS communication comprises at least one of streaming videodata and a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication.
 18. The method accordingto claim 11, wherein the cellular protocol message is configured inaccordance with an unstructured supplementary service data messageprotocol.
 19. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein thecellular protocol message is configured in accordance with a shortmessage service message protocol.
 20. The mobile device according toclaim 11, wherein the cellular protocol message is configured inaccordance with a multimedia message service message protocol.